Episode 2
It was a tone laced with jealousy, audible to anyone, yet the smiling expression was gentle.
The man, as he approached, possessed a face so handsome it drew involuntary gasps of admiration. Distinct features, fine silver hair, and luminous purple eyes held a captivating allure.
‘Does he know Sylvia?’
“I’m sorry, Cesar. I’ve been busy taking care of an injured bird for a while.”
“It’s alright. I was just worried. But you don’t look well?”
At the man’s words, Sylvia’s expression clouded over.
‘What’s wrong, Sylvia?’
As I looked up, needlessly worried, she spoke.
“Yes. As you know, my father isn’t very fond of me raising birds. So I’m wondering what to do.”
“Beep?”
‘What’s that supposed to mean? Weren’t you going to be my owner?’
As I dejectedly drooped my tail feathers at the unexpected news,
“Then, Sylvia, shall I take it?”
The man called Cesar was offering to take me.
“Is that alright?”
“Anything is possible if you wish it.”
The upturned corners of his eyes and the sweetly whispered words made my heart flutter. Sylvia, on the other hand, seemed unconcerned, her face brightening as she smiled gratefully.
“Thank you. Then wait just a moment. I’ll get the necessary things from Nanny.”
Sylvia left, and only Cesar and I remained in the room.
I stared intently at the man who would become my new owner. I was relieved that he seemed kind. I thought I should at least greet my new owner since things had turned out this way, but…
The man’s smiling face suddenly changed. The warmth that had lingered in his purple eyes turned into a dangerous gleam, and a chillingly cold expression appeared.
“You haven’t come to see me because you were taking care of this insignificant bird?”
‘…His reaction is strange?’
“Bee…eep…”
As I flinched and tried to back away, Sylvia entered the room with her nanny. The nanny, startled at the sight of Cesar, bowed her head.
“Welcome, Duke Clovis.”
“Yes. It’s been a while.”
For a moment, I doubted my ears.
‘Did she just say Clovis? Cesar Clovis. And Sylvia.’
Only then did I recognize the sense of déjà vu I felt when I first heard the name Sylvia.
Cesar Clovis was the name of the scheming sub-male lead in the novel I had read. The character who conspired a rebellion with the Second Prince to steal Sylvia away from the Crown Prince, the true male lead.
He ultimately failed to kill the Crown Prince and lost his life, but…
The point at which Cesar Clovis turned villainous was clearly stated in the novel. And I clearly remembered that line and scene.
‘Even if I kill this bird you gave me, you won’t come back. I have to kill the Crown Prince for you to come back, right…?’
After snapping the neck of the bird he received from the female lead, his eyes completely changed, and he joined hands with the Second Prince. So, who was that bird?
It was me. It seems I’ve become that bird.
‘I’m doomed. What am I going to do now?’
As I trembled with terror, Cesar’s eyes met mine. His gaze seemed to tell me this:
If I revealed even a hint of what just happened in front of Sylvia, he would kill me.
I tried my best to gauge Cesar’s mood and tilted my head as if nothing had happened.
“Beep?”
Tears welled up at my unfortunate fate, but it was important to appease him first.
Sylvia looked at Cesar with an apologetic face.
“Sorry. It took a while because I had a lot to bring.”
“It’s alright, Sylvia. I had a good time with the bird you’re raising.”
The eyes that had threatened me now curved gently like sunshine. The smoothly delivered lie, without a single hesitation, sent shivers down my spine.
I wished it was all a dream, but Sylvia was diligently explaining to him the things I liked. After finishing her explanation, she told him to put the prepared items in his carriage.
The nanny nodded and bowed her head silently.
“Miss, then please enjoy your time with Duke Clovis. Isn’t it the first time you’ve seen each other in a while?”
“Yes. Thank you, Nanny.”
As Sylvia replied with a smile, the nanny smiled back.
When the nanny left, only Cesar and Sylvia remained in the room. Of course, I, a small bird, was also there. Though I wasn’t in their line of sight.
Sylvia and Cesar started exchanging friendly greetings and continued their conversation.
“I haven’t seen you in a while. I’m glad to hear you’re doing well, Cesar.”
“It’s been lonely without you. Can’t you come visit me more often?”
Cesar’s voice was smooth, and his eyes were full of longing. They were sweet words, as if spoken to a lover, but Sylvia simply replied with a bright smile.
“I will. I’ll have to check on Lily often too.”
“Lily?”
“It’s the name of the bird you decided to take.”
I was touched that she hadn’t forgotten me, despite the sudden mention of my name, but I felt the atmosphere instantly turn cold.
Death flags flashed through my mind. My little bird heart pounded.
‘Sylvia, why are you bringing me up now? Why don’t you see that chilling gaze?’
As I frantically flapped my wings inside the cage, Sylvia’s eyes landed on me.
“Huh? Lily’s acting strange?”
“That bird seems to want to get your attention.”
‘No. No, it doesn’t.’
It seemed to have had the opposite effect.
“Bee… Beep.”
I stopped flapping my wings and avoided Cesar’s stinging gaze. When I suddenly stopped flying after being so restless, Sylvia stared at me with even more concern in her eyes.
“Are you sick? Are there any aftereffects from your wings?”
‘I’m fine. Please pay attention to Cesar, not me. I feel like my lifespan is being shortened in real-time.’
At that moment, as Cesar snapped his fingers, a halo of light swirled around me. I wondered if my short bird life was ending like this.
‘To become a bird that dies right after possessing its body.’
I closed my eyes tightly. But strangely, my body felt light.
“Beep?”
My wings felt stronger, too.
Come to think of it, Cesar was good at using magic, wasn’t he?
“If you had told me earlier, I could have helped.”
“Cesar, did you just use magic?”
“Yes. I can do anything for you.”
Sylvia then hugged Cesar tightly. Her sparkling, star-like hair swayed.
“Thank you. I was relieved thinking her wings were completely healed, but Lily suddenly acted strangely, and I was worried for a moment that I might have treated her incorrectly.”
“I knew you’d worry like that, being so kind. You pour all your attention into caring, even for a mere bird.”
Brushing back Sylvia’s loose hair, Cesar looked at her with eyes dripping with honey. The cold gaze he had fixed on me had disappeared.
Fortunately, it seemed I had overcome one near-death experience.
“Why didn’t you call me from the beginning?”
“But you’re busy too. The monsters have been rampant lately. Isn’t your duchy also in chaos because of the monsters descending from the Estero Mountains in the north?”
“It’s alright. Do you really think I’d be defeated by such monsters?”
Monsters…? They were definitely mentioned occasionally in the novel. They suddenly became quiet towards the end though.
As I nodded to myself, listening, Sylvia laughed. Sometimes, she found it cute how I tilted my head as if understanding her words.
“Here, come here, Lily.”
“Beep?”
Sylvia opened the cage door. I fluttered over and landed on Sylvia’s shoulder.
Cesar’s gaze sharpened again. I felt like crying at his already disapproving attitude.
“The bird acts as if it understands words.”
“Right? I also find it amazing sometimes because it seems like Lily understands human language.”
Sylvia had accurately pinpointed my peculiarity. I couldn’t help but feel excited at her loving gaze.
“Beep!”
‘That’s right. That’s why I brought the flowers Sylvia likes!’
“See? Isn’t she cute?”
As I blinked my eyes charmingly, Cesar’s face hardened for a moment.
‘Oh no. I forgot to appease him and acted close to Sylvia.’
“Bee… Beep.”
I discreetly flew over and perched on Cesar’s shoulder. I wanted to rub my head against him affectionately, but his eyes were sharp.
‘Let’s not pretend to be close and just stay away from Sylvia.’
“Lily. Are you already abandoning me because you have a new owner?”
Looking at Sylvia’s dejected face made my heart ache. But I had to survive first, so I silently stayed on his shoulder.
“It’s a relief. It seems like you two have become close, even though you’ve only met briefly.”
‘No way. I felt threatened just a moment ago.’
I pretended to be close, clinging to Cesar’s shoulder, but my rapidly beating heart and instinctively stiff body made me incredibly uncomfortable.
“Sylvia, where did you get this bird?”
“Huh? I brought it in this morning because it looked like it had fallen from its nest while I was on a walk.”
“Is that so?”
“……Beep.”
‘Why are you looking at me with such scary interest?’
“Why do you ask?”
“It’s nothing.”
“Then shall we go together now? I have to meet His Highness the Crown Prince in a bit.”
“His Highness the Crown Prince?”
At the mention of the Crown Prince, I felt Cesar’s body tremble slightly.
“Yes. I received a letter summoning me to the Imperial Palace.”
“Alright, Sylvia.”
His mouth was smiling, but his eyes were not.
My little heart pounded. I felt cold sweat trickling between my feathers.
“Then I’ll be going now. Lily, be good. I’ll visit you often.”
“Beeeep…!”
‘Don’t leave me, Sylvia. What do you think will happen to me if you go meet the Crown Prince like that!’
But Sylvia heartlessly got into the carriage and disappeared.
As Sylvia vanished, Cesar cast off the gentle mask he had been wearing.
“…I don’t really like birds.”
His first words were ominous.
“It’s Sylvia’s request, so I can’t kill it, right?”
“……Beep.”
No. Later, you’ll lose your mind and kill me.